Last Night: Eve 6 at Scout Bar

It isn't every day that you're given the opportunity to time-travel, to go back to a simpler time and relive it vicariously through the music that was near and dear to you when things weren't so damn complicated. So, when that chance presents itself, as it did last night, it's in your best interest to take advantage...Even if it happens to be on a weeknight, when you really should be hitting the gym, eating a healthy dinner and getting the recommended eight hours of sleep before you trudge into work in the morning.

Forget all that, people; this is rock and roll.

Wednesday night at Scout Bar Clear Lake, the newly reunited Eve 6 performed for nearly an hour and a half, cramming 18 songs into their act. Unfortunately, they did so in front of a sparse crowd that, unlike the band, seemed to lack enthusiasm. The band's set, which began with "Situation Infatuation" off the new album Speak in Code, was a beautiful hodgepodge of old and new songs.

While "Situation Infatuation" may not be a radio hit (yet), the tune is unmistakably Eve 6. High-energy pop punk infused with witty lyricism: "We haven't even had a conversation, and I'm lying awake and picturing you naked." The entire album follows suit, and it seems the late '90s-era musicians have picked up right where they left off.

Despite a few technical difficulties and discrepancies with the microphone levels during the opener, the trio put forth its best and received a roar of applause from the crowd afterward. It wasn't until halfway through the show that they seemed to have the crowd's full attention, though that was no fault of the band.

Song after song, Eve 6 executed an unceasingly sturdy performance, with barely a 30-second break in between many of them. But for some reason, much of the crowd was unresponsive, seemingly content to stand completely still, occasionally pulling out their phones to snap a photo.

Is letting your Facebook friends know that you attended a concert more important than actually having a good time while you're there?

Unnerved by the crowd's lack of vigor, I moved to the center of it, where a number of fans were leaping around, arms draped over one another, shouting out lyrics while acquiescing to vocalist Max Collins's occasional requests.

When he would say, "Houston, I want you to put your hands in the air," the people in the center of it all would do just that. And from there, I spent a good hour listening and singing along to music that I remember from and associate with my childhood, when I was more concerned with getting that girl in class to like me and making my friends laugh than paying bills and rotating my tires on a regular basis.

From Eve 6's vantage point, it might not have looked all that engaging. But from where we ended up standing (and jumping and shouting), it looked, sounded and felt great.

Overheard in the Crowd: This one girl behind us knew every word to every song... Which was pretty rad.

Random Notebook Dump: Driving back into town, just as Houston's skyline came into view, my friend said something I found insightful: "Concerts are like mini-vacations." He went on to say that we sit at work or in school and are "good boys" all the time, so concerts are a way to let out all that liveliness we've been suppressing.

And it's also our way to give back to the musicians who make the music we love, by jumping up and down and letting them see their music's effect on the fans. He, like me, couldn't understand why so many people were standing still and stoic all night.

SET LIST

Situation Infatuation Amphetamines Promise BFGF Think Twice Leech Nightmare Here's to the Night Curtain At Least We're Dreaming (acoustic) Pick Up the Pieces Victoria Tongue Tied Lost & Found On the Roof Again Inside Out Open Road Song